Found in central and southeast Madagascar on rocky prairies near ericoid scrub bushes at elevations of 2400 to 2600 meters as a medium sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial with elongated tubers giving rise to a short stem enveloped completly by numerous, long, imbricating leaf-bearing sheaths carrying lingulate, acute leaves that blooms in the later spring and summer on a terminal, 18" [45 cm] long, many flowered inflorescence.